B I R D I N G & WA L K I N G TO U R S
Birding Small Town Coastal Florida
Florida Scrub Jay Walk
Meeting Location:
Whitney Lab Center for Marine Studies, 9505 Oceanshore Blvd.
Leader: Joseph Woodbury
Meeting Location: North Peninsula State Park
Directions: From downtown St. Augustine, head east over the Bridge of
Lions and south on Anastasia Blvd. Follow A1A South to High Bridge Road
(one mile south of the Volusia and Flagler County line) Call 386.517.2086
for directions.
Guide: Florida Park Service Ranger
THURSDAY 6:30 A.M. TO 2 P.M.
Price: $30, plus cost of lunch | Min/Max No of People: 7/12 | Difficulty Level:
Undemanding
Hop on the bus for this unique birding trip through small town Northeast
Florida. You’ll arrive at Washington Oaks Gardens State Park to view the sunrise
over the beach. Washington Oaks Gardens, with its maritime hammock, is a
well-known hot spot for warblers. Orchard Orioles, Summer Tanagers, Indigo
Buntings, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Swallow-tailed kites and nesting Great Horned
and Barred Owls are also avian possibilities. Then we’ll head south for 20 minutes
and enjoy panoramic views of the Atlantic Ocean. At North Peninsula State park
enjoy two miles of pristine beaches, 300 acres of scrub, the habitat vital to the
survival of the Florida Scrub-Jay. This will be a rare opportunity to get a look
at one of Florida’s true treasures. At noon we’ll stop at the charming seaside
community of Flagler Beach for lunch.
SATURDAY 8 TO 9 A.M.
Price: $10 | Min/Max No of People: 10/20 | Difficulty Level: Undemanding
The Florida Scrub Jay is truly a remarkable animal. This bold, inquisitive bird
is only found in the Sunshine State. Unfortunately, the jays’ habitat is quickly
disappearing, leaving the bird vulnerable to extinction. North Peninsula State
Park has 300 acres of scrub - the habitat vital to the survival of the Florida
Scrub Jay. You’ll learn the importance of scrub to other rare plants and
animals and about the management of Florida Scrub Jay habitat through
prescribed fire.
Exploring Butterflies in the Garden
Washington Oaks Gardens State Park, Garden Parking Area,
6400 Oceanshore Blvd., Palm Coast **Fee paid at Park Entrance Gate
Guide: Florida Park Service Ranger
Introduction to the Environments of the River to Sea
Preserve
SATURDAY 2 TO 3 P.M.
Meeting Location:
River to Sea Preserve Park at Marineland, 9805 N. Oceanshore Blvd.
Guide: Frank Quinn
Price: $5 | Min/Max No of People: 5/25 | Difficulty Level: Undemanding
The 20-acre ornamental garden at Washington Oaks is an ideal setting for
this enjoyable walk. Participants will explore the garden pathways in search
of Florida’s most beautiful butterflies and learn identification, behavior, and
the right plants to choose for attracting butterflies to their own garden.
THURSDAY - SATURDAY 7:30 TO 9:30 A.M.
Price: $20 | Min/Max No People: 4/12 | Difficulty Level: Undemanding
Beginning at the Atlantic Ocean and reaching west to the Intracoastal Waterway,
Marineland’s River to Sea Preserve protects a rapidly disappearing maritime
scrub environment. On the shore we will find the shore birds. Across the
road, we enter a scrub habitat with foraging birds. At the pond, there is the
possibility of some Black Crowned Night Herons. Into the hammock, we can
find the warblers, cardinals, woodpeckers, hawks and possibly an owl. Along the
Intracoastal, we will look for waders and other water birds among the marshes.
Exploring the Guana Tolomato Matanzas NERR
Meeting Location: GTM Research Reserve, Parking Lot at the entrance to the
Trails ($3 parking fee per car)
Guide: Tropical Birding Tours
THURSDAY - SATURDAY 9 TO 11 A.M.
Price: $10 | Min/Max No People: 4/12 | Difficulty: Undemanding
GTMNERR is one of the premier birding locations in Northeast Florida, hosting
a hardwood hammock alongside the Atlantic coast, becoming a fantastic
migration hotspot in the spring and fall. Expect to see a host of warblers, vireos,
and other songbirds.
PHOTO: PHOEBE FLEMING
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